Under a recently signed agreement with GE (NYSE:GE), Al Farraj Trading & Manufacturing Company (FTMC) will assemble and supply GE electrical equipment to five key Middle Eastern countries: Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Oman and Jordan. To support the growing requirements of its relationship with GE, FTMC is inaugurating a new manufacturing facility in Doha. This facility was officially inaugurated today by Their Excellencies Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of State for Energy & Industry Affairs and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Jassim Bin Mohammad Al-Thani, Chairman Qatar Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

FTMC is a licensed GE electrical distribution panel builder and will assemble GE's low voltage switchgear - critical to ensuring the reliability and safety of the distribution of electricity. The new facility will create up to 150 new jobs in the country.

"Our new manufacturing facility in Doha is a testament to our commitment to serve the growing electricity needs of the commercial and residential sectors in Qatar as well as the region," said Mohammad Mahmoud Farraj, Chairman and Managing Director of Farah Trading & Contracting (FTC) Group. "This new facility is a major investment and reflects the commitment of both FTMC and Al-Jaber Group to support the needs of our valued customers in Qatar as well as the region. Our relationship with GE greatly enhances our capabilities to serve our customers' electrical distribution needs throughout the Middle East."

The 7,000 square meter FTMC plant will also manufacture electrical equipment, including electrical distribution boards and sub-main distribution panels equipped with GE electrical components, used in the protection and distribution of electricity in residential, commercial and industrial applications.

"The new agreement is a natural extension of our relationship with FTMC and will harness our collective strengths to explore solutions that address not only Qatar's increasing electricity needs, but the region's as well. This new facility demonstrates GE's long-term strategy to support the Middle East's economic and infrastructure development with a platform for future growth and reflects our commitment to localization and knowledge sharing, by being closer to our customers." said Joe Anis, president, GE Energy for the Middle East.

To support the region's rapid industrial and commercial growth, GE is further localizing its electrical distribution technologies by establishing local warehouse, execution and assembly capabilities. Through the increased working relationship with FTMC, GE is further expanding its knowledge sharing initiative by increasing local access to its latest designs for low voltage switchgear and other distribution equipment.

GE has been active in the Middle East since the 1930s and has management and project management offices as well as local repair and service facilities to serve customers throughout the region. GE Energy has installed 1,000 turbines and has over 1,400 employees across the Middle East, while GE's oil & gas and water & process technologies businesses also play major roles in the development of the region's infrastructure.

FTMC was established in 1999 in the UAE as a branch of Farah Trading and Contracting Company (FTC) to distribute electrical distribution components in local and neighboring markets. FTC was founded in 1962 by the Al Farraj family for around 50 years, to serve the electrical distribution needs in the Middle East. Since 1972, FTC is headquartered in Amman, Jordan, with distribution facilities throughout the region.